UAW Subpoenas Haslam, Corker To Appear At VW NLRB Appeal Hearing

Cameron Aubernon
by Cameron Aubernon

Tennessee governor Bill Haslam and U.S. Sen. Bob Corker are just two of the 20 prominent Tennessee witnesses subpoenaed by the United Auto Workers to appear at the union’s hearing before the National Labor Resource Board later this month, where the UAW will appeal the results of the organizing election held at the Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga back in February of this year.

The Detroit News reports the 20 witnesses subpoenaed are ordered to bring emails and documents related to a state government incentive made to VW in the aim of bringing production of a planned midsize SUV to Tennessee. Outgoing UAW president Bob King defended his union’s decision:

The purpose of the NLRB’s investigation is to determine the truth concerning the third-party interference in the February election at Volkswagen’s Chattanooga plant. The NLRB’s rules call for the use of subpoenas as part of this truth-seeking exercise. The UAW hopes that all parties who receive subpoenas will fully comply by providing the NLRB with the requested documents and with their testimony.

The action comes on the heels of an exposé conducted by Nashville CBS affiliate WTVF-TV regarding documents linking the Haslam administration to an incentive proposal made to the German automaker on the alleged condition the plant in Chattanooga remain unorganized; the proposal was withdrawn in January ahead of the election.

Among the others subpoenaed by the UAW include Tennessee house speaker Beth Harwell, economic development commissioner Bill Hagerty, and anti-tax activist Grover Norquist.

Cameron Aubernon
Cameron Aubernon

Seattle-based writer, blogger, and photographer for many a publication. Born in Louisville. Raised in Kansas. Where I lay my head is home.

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  • Xeranar Xeranar on Apr 12, 2014

    In general the hand wringing and the teeth gnashing are going up amongst the right's most ardent supporters. They're facing a reality where their greatest heroes of the moment are being called to the carpet to face their actions. The most interesting discussion I see here is how the few leftists who came out in support of it are practically being shouted at in frustration because the moral economists are trying to figure out how their moral theories are failing them. It's always difficult when your base your theoretical success on your propensity to be better. But I digress, whatever happens I hope that it settles sooner rather than later. This case isn't unique and in fact has been decided some time ago. Public officials can't try to intimidate anybody through the use of their power whether with a carrot or stick. Interestingly enough I could see the UAW simply being given the right to organize the workers through a works council system. In effect they are the outside leadership that handles the works council for VW. But we shall see where this all falls.

    • See 3 previous
    • GeneralMalaise GeneralMalaise on Apr 13, 2014

      @Xeranar Continue on in your Great Mince Forward...

  • Landcrusher Landcrusher on Apr 12, 2014

    "Public officials can’t try to intimidate anybody through the use of their power whether with a carrot or stick." I can only assume you meant shouldn't. It's come to that point in the political cycle where folks on the left start questioning whether their support of statism isn't backfiring and stop going to the polls. It will be interesting to see if the Dems can overcome it. In the long term, it will be interesting to see if you don't snap out of it as well. It's easy to overlook oppressive moves you agree with for a while, but eventually you realize it wasn't the best way to change things. In politics, maturity is remembering how little you liked it when the other side crammed their idiocy down your throat and disapproving of your side doing the same.

  • Jlharvey254 Jlharvey254 on Apr 12, 2014

    As interesting as all of the opinions of "Left" and "Right" are on here, I still ask what Haslam's offer had to do with the vote at VW? No one was aware of it at the time of the actual election. Pointing out what Unions had done for Detroit and companies like Hostess in the past few years were more effective arguments in Chattanooga. Bringing up the history of Chattanooga as being one of the dirtiest cities in America when unions were a major presence, and pointing out what the company and the UAW had agreed to in their agreement was enough to undo 2 years of union activity in about 9 days. Incentives, tax breaks, etc, had nothing to do with the way people voted. IG Metal reps on the Board in Europe threatening no expansion had more effect than anything local.

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    • Pch101 Pch101 on Apr 12, 2014

      @Pch101 You devote much of your time on this website to trying to redefine words in the English language when they don't suit you. So it wasn't at all surprising when I posted a link above that was directly on point, only to see within minutes that you did not understand what it said. I'm not sure whether you suffer from cognitive dissonance or a genuine reading disability. But whatever it is, I do know that communicating with you in writing is a hopeless task.

  • Landcrusher Landcrusher on Apr 12, 2014

    So what am I redefining not to your taste this time? We all wait with baited breath. Fair Disclosure, I am not really sure what that phrase means, but I think I used it properly anyway. :)

    • Landcrusher Landcrusher on Apr 12, 2014

      I looked it up, it's bated breath. Short for abated. Makes much more sense if you spell it correctly.

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